World News - The Morning Sun

COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber, center, adjusts his ghutra during a news conference at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Organizers of COP28 want an inclusive summit. But just how diverse is the negotiating table?

Many women, young people and Indigenous voices say they feel they’re relegated to mere attendance, with limited opportunities to contribute substantially to the decisive meetings, despite promises … more

By UZMI ATHAR, Press Trust of India | 12/9/23

FILE - Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes statements with Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after their meeting at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, on Dec. 7, 2023. Erdogan used a speech on human rights Saturday Dec. 9, 2023 to accuse the West of “barbarism” for its stance on the Israel-Hamas war and what he alleged was its toleration of Islamophobia. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas, File)

Turkey's Erdogan accuses the West of 'barbarism' and Islamophobia in the war in Gaza

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used a speech on human rights to accuse the West of “barbarism” for its stance on the Israel-Hamas war and what he alleged was its toleration of … more

12/9/23

FILE - This handout photo provided by the Israel Prime Minister Office shows Shoshan Haran speaking on the phone upon her arrival in Israel after being freed. Shoshan was one of the 13 Israeli hostages that Hamas released late Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in the second round of swaps under a cease-fire deal. Step by step, the newly freed and their families are testing the ground for a path to recovery. No one, including the physicians and psychologists who have been treating them, is sure how to get there or how long it might take. (Israel Prime Minister Office/Handout via AP, File)

‘Shadows of children:’ For the youngest hostages, life moves forward in whispers

After seven weeks held hostage in the tunnels of Gaza, they are finally free to laugh and chat and play. But some of the children who have come back from captivity are still reluctant to raise their … more

By JULIA FRANKEL, ADAM GELLER and TIM SULLIVAN | 12/9/23

FILE - Participants watch Russian President Vladimir Putin's addressing a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St.Petersburg, Russia, Friday, June 17, 2022. Most Russian opposition figures are either in prison at home or are in exile abroad. But they vow that they will still put up a fight against President Vladimir Putin as he seeks yet another term in office in an election scheduled for March. (AP Photo, File)

With Putin's reelection all but assured, Russia's opposition still vows to undermine his image

Most Russian opposition figures are either in prison at home or are in exile abroad. But they vow that they will still put up a fight against President Vladimir Putin as he seeks yet another term in … more

By DASHA LITVINOVA | 12/9/23

A man carries the new map of Venezuela with the Essequibo territory, a large swath of land that is administered and controlled by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela, to the National Assembly building in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Tensions are soaring between Guyana and Venezuela over century-old territorial dispute

A century-old territorial dispute is boiling over between neighbors Guyana and Venezuela. It's steeped in patriotism and deepened by the discovery of oil. The Venezuelan government is seizing on the … more

By REGINA GARCIA CANO and DÁNICA COTO | 12/9/23

Reporters raise their hands to ask questions as Foreign Ministers, from left, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Maliki, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi, and Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry, attend a news conference about the Israel-Hamas war, and pressure to reduce civilian casualties, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

UN chief and many nations demand immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, but US remains opposed

The United Nations chief and many Security Council members are demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. But the United States is reiterating its opposition, virtually dooming any … more

By EDITH M. LEDERER and ELLEN KNICKMEYER | 12/8/23

FILE - The flags of Britain, Scotland and European Union wave outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Scotland’s highest civil court on Friday upheld the British government’s move to block a landmark gender-recognition law passed by the Scottish parliament, underscoring the growing divide over local control of legislation in the nations of the United Kingdom. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)

Scottish court upholds UK decision to block Scotland's landmark gender-recognition bill

Scotland’s highest civil court has upheld the British government’s move to block a landmark gender-recognition law passed by the Scottish parliament. The decision underscores the growing divide … more

By DANICA KIRKA | 12/8/23

An Israeli army vehicle removes tires blocking roads that Palestinians had set on fire during a military raid into Faraa refugee camp, West Bank, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. The Palestinian Health Ministry says that five Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces raided the camp prompting fighting with local militants. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Six Palestinians are killed in the Israeli military's latest West Bank raid, health officials say

Palestinian health officials say Israeli forces stormed into a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank to arrest Palestinian militants and unleashed fighting with local gunmen in which six … more

By ISABEL DEBRE | 12/8/23

FILE - Taiwan military vessels are seen in Keelung Harbor in Taiwan, on Aug. 4, 2022. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said a Chinese military surveillance balloon passed over the northern port city of Keelung Thursday night, Dec. 7, 2023, then continued travelling east before disappearing. (AP Photo/Johnson Lai, File)

Taiwan says it spotted a Chinese surveillance balloon as the island's election nears

Taiwan's Defense Ministry says it has spotted a Chinese surveillance balloon in the Taiwan Strait along with a large-scale movement of military aircraft and ships. It says the balloon passed over the … more

12/8/23

FILE - The U.S. Embassy is seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 3, 2020. A rocket attack at the sprawling U.S. embassy in Baghdad Friday Dec. 8, 2023 caused minor material damage but no casualties, U.S. and Iraqi officials said. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed, File)

A rocket attack targets the US Embassy in Baghdad, causing minor damage but no casualties

U.S. and Iraqi officials say a rocket attack at the sprawling U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has caused minor damage but no casualties. Iran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility for dozens of … more

BY QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA | 12/8/23

In this photo provided by South Korea Presidential Office, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, left, poses for a photo with his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yong during their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. (South Korea Presidential Office via AP)

South Korea's defense chief vows retaliatory strikes on 'heart and head' of North Korea if provoked

South Korea’s defense minister has vowed massive retaliatory missile strikes on “the heart and head” of North Korea in the event of provocation, as the rivals escalate their rhetoric over their … more

By HYUNG-JIN KIM | 12/8/23

Activists participate in a demonstration with a sign that reads "adaptation finance now" at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

How to adapt to climate change may be secondary at COP28, but it's key to saving lives, experts say

As United Nations climate talks enter their second week, negotiators who are largely focused on how to curb climate change have another thing on their plates: how to adapt to the warming that’s … more

By SIBI ARASU | 12/8/23

Journalists' rights group counts 94 media workers killed this year, most of them in Gaza

The International Federation of Journalists says 2023 has been an unprecedented year for the number of media workers killed on the job. The organization that represents journalists worldwide said … more

12/8/23

FILE - This undated file photo provided by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows a vaquita porpoise. Gillnet fishing for wild totoaba is illegal and one of the leading killers of critically endangered vaquita porpoise, of which recent surveys suggest less than a dozen may exist in the wild. On Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, a coalition of environmental groups said exporting totoaba or its parts violates an international convention on trading endangered species. (Paula Olson/NOAA via AP, File)

Advocates say a Mexican startup is illegally selling a health drink from an endangered fish

Environmental watchdogs have accused a Mexico-based startup of violating international trade law that protects the endangered totoaba fish. A health company called The Blue Formula sells a powder … more

By DANIEL SHAILER | 12/7/23

A pedestrian passes by banners promoting candidates for upcoming district council elections in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Hong Kong's new election law thins the candidate pool, giving voters little option in Sunday's polls

While Hong Kong's government is working to spotlight its upcoming local elections, some district council members are preparing for their exits under the sharply shifting political landscape. New … more

By KANIS LEUNG | 12/7/23

FILE - Ethnic Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh to Kornidzor, in Armenia's Syunik region, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to exchange prisoners of war and work toward signing a peace treaty in what the European Union is hailing as a major step toward peace in the long-troubled region. The two countries said in a joint statement Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 that they “share the view that there is a historical chance to achieve a long-awaited peace.” (AP Photo/Vasily Krestyaninov, File)

Armenia and Azerbaijan announce deal to exchange POWs and work toward peace treaty

Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to exchange prisoners of war and work toward signing a peace treaty in what the European Union is hailing as a major step toward peace in the long-troubled region. … more

By AVET DEMOURIAN | 12/7/23

FILE - Residents gather for a planned distribution of food, after El Niño rains damaged their houses in Bangale town in Tana River county, Kenya, Nov. 26, 2023. Ongoing catastrophic rains in Eastern Africa have been worsened by human-caused climate change that made them up to two times more intense, an international team of climate scientists said Thursday, Dec. 7. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, file)

Scientists: Climate change intensified the rains devastating East Africa

An international team of climate scientists says the ongoing catastrophic rains in East Africa have been made worse by human-induced climate change. An analysis by World Weather Attribution found … more

By CARLOS MUREITHI | 12/7/23

FILE - Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesman and deputy information minister, speaks during a media tour fo the sitting Maravijaya Buddha statue, Friday, July 21, 2023 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for the ruling military council, was quoted Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in state media as saying that about 1,000 soldiers who deserted or went absent without leave or had retired had gone through the process of requesting the military for their return to service. Myanmar’s military government has been freeing soldiers and police who had been jailed for desertion and absence without leave, seeking to get them to return to active duty, a police officer and an army officer said Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File)

Myanmar' army is facing battlefield challenges and grants amnesty to troops jailed for being AWOL

Reports from Myanmar say its military government has been freeing soldiers and police who had been jailed for desertion and absence without leave as authorities seek to get them to return to active … more

By GRANT PECK | 12/7/23

FILE- Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma smiles in Massessehbeh village outside Freetown, SierraLeone, Aug. 14, 2015. Koroma has been invited by the nation's police to be questioned over the recent attacks that officials called a failed coup, a government spokesman said Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, file)

Sierra Leone ex-president is called in for questioning over attacks officials say was a failed coup

A Sierra Leone government spokesman says that a former president has been called in for questioning by police over recent attacks that officials say was a failed coup. The information minister said … more

By KEMO CHAM | 12/7/23

Adrian LeBaron talks to the press outside the Attorney General's office in Mexico City, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. LeBaron, the father of a woman who was one of nine American citizens killed in a drug cartel ambush in northern Mexico on Nov. 4, 2019, says the Mexican government systematically undercounts both homicides and disappearances. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Mexico focuses on looking for people falsely listed as missing, ignores thousands of disappeared

Mexico’s government is pouring resources into detecting what it suggests are “fake” missing people. It says they are cases reported by political opponents to embarrass the government, or … more

By MARK STEVENSON | 12/7/23